AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Hendersonville Reservoir–Pilot Cove Loop, 4 sights

13 mi · ▲ 3,383 ft · 6 hr 1 min

Hendersonville Reservoir–Pilot Cove Loop, 4 sights is a 13-mile out-and-back near Wolf Ford, NC. The route reaches Hendersonville Reservoir at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 3,383 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi2,454 – 4,255 ft · steepest grade: 35%13.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Yellow Gap Road 35.38334, -82.71496
Nearest town Wolf Ford, NC
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Hendersonville Reservoir–Pilot Cove Loop, 4 sights

13 mi · ▲ 3,383 ft · 6 hr 1 min

Elevation 2,453–4,256 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Yellow Gap Road · 35.38334, -82.71496

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:06 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Slate Rock Creek Trail, heading N.
  2. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Pilot Cove Loop, heading NW.
  3. 250 ftContinue straight onto Slate Rock Creek Trail, heading N.
  4. 1.6 miSharp left onto Slate Rock Connector, heading NE.
  5. 0.5 miTurn left onto Laurel Mountain, heading N.
  6. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  7. 1.2 miBear right onto Big Creek, heading NE.
  8. 2.6 miReach Hendersonville Reservoir, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  9. 2.6 miBear left, heading SW.
  10. 1.2 miTurn left onto Laurel Mountain, heading SW.
  11. 0.5 miTurn right onto Slate Rock Connector, heading NE.
  12. 0.5 miSharp right onto Slate Rock Creek Trail, heading S.
  13. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Pilot Cove Loop, heading E.
  14. 250 ftContinue straight onto Slate Rock Creek Trail, heading SE.
  15. 250 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/hendersonville-reservoir-hendersonville-reservoir-out-back-5-sights-21-km

Trail surface

82% dirt18% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 7:56 PM

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Yellow Gap Road Trailhead

Hikes near Wolf Ford, North Carolina